Trade Offs

Last night I got on a plane to Switzerland after being home only one full day following a trip to the states. All I could think as the car pulled away, and I caught the kiss my daughter had blown me from the front window, was "man, this is hard." And I remained on edge, unhappy and stressed enough to chew my nails into an unattractive mess until midnight when my cab pulled up to the hotel in Switzerland. At the front desk was a man named Gunter who welcomed me so nicely, showed me my room and was clearly so proud of this hotel that I had no choice but to be pleased to be here.

And then I woke up and had breakfast here.

I work in a job that asks me to put in long hours and to travel a lot. I sometimes do such ridiculous things that I can't help but think - this is my job? And then the same job puts me in a picture-perfect moment that I wouldn't have had access to in my life, and I can't help but think - this is my job? I find myself sometimes equally elated and embarrassed about moments that I am afforded. This is one of them. Would I give up this view, this experience and this luxurious treatment to be home with my family? Yes, a million times over. But if I have to be away and working, I am certainly not complaining that it is here.